Device for rendering toilets odorless



y Y J. w. KERLIN 2,289,368

DEVICE FOR RENDERING TOILETS ODORLESS Filed Dec 2. 27, 1959 &

WITNESSES INVENTOR u/(l/t/L 20'. [fax Jill,

W I a 7 :56 BY 9 67-? c: ATTORNEYS Patented July 14, 1942 DEVICE FOR RENDERING TOILETS ODORLESS John Wesley Kerlin; Trenton, N. J.

Application December 27, 1939, Serial No. 311,689

(Cl. 4-2l3) 3 Glaims.

This invention relates to an improved device for rendering toilets odorless and has for an object to provide a construction wherein odors are removed as fast as created so that the toilet and vicinity will always remain free of odors.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device adapted to be attached to commercial toilets now in use, wherein as soon as the toilet seat has been pressed down to its full functioning position a suction will be produced for drawing air and odor from the bowl of the toilet and discharging the same at a distant point.

A further object is to provide a tubular structure associated with the seat of a conventional toilet and means operated through the action of the toilet seat for setting in motion a fan or suction device each time the toilet seat is lowered, whereby gaseous fluid of various kinds may be drawn through the tubular structure and discharged at a distant point.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the conventional toilet bowl and associated parts together with an embodiment of the invention shown in operative position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of certain parts in section illustrating the switch, fan chamber and associated parts, as shown generally in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through Fig. 2 on the line 33.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, I indicates a toilet structure of any well known kind and including a toilet bowl 2 and a seat 3 hingedly supported at 4. An elongated resilient bumper 5 is arranged adjacent the front end of the seat 3 so as to hold the seat 3 elevated somewhat from its down or full functioning position. When anyone sits on the seat 3 it will swing downwardly and compress the bumper sufficiently to close a circuit and perform other actions hereinafter fully described.

As shown in Fig. 1, there is provided a tubular structure 6 composed principally of a primary pipe I, auxiliary pipes 8 and 9, and a casing Ill. The auxiliary pipe 9 preferably extends through the wall W so that the depending end I I will discharge the air and odor exteriorly of the building. The primary pipe I is substantially L-shaped and at the lower end is provided with a rubber bumper I2 which is preferably formed of soft When anyone is sitting on the lid 3, or when the lid 3 is pressed in any manner, the part will assume the position shown in Fig. 2, wherein the rubber bumpers or gaskets I2 and I3 will be in tight contact. This will provide a continuous passage through the entire tubular structure 6.

The upper end of the primary pipe I is provided with an inlet tubular member or pipe I4 which slidingly fits over the upper end of the pipe I at I5. Preferably the inlet pipe I4 is rectangular though not necessarily so. This inlet pipe is countersunk in a suitable cutout I6.

The inlet pipe I4 is provided with an inlet opening I? facing downwardly so as to'readily receive air or other fluid from the upper part of the bowl 2. By reason of this construction it will readily be seen that when suction or rarefaction is produced in the primary pipe I and auxiliary pipe 8, air or other fluid will be drawn through the inlet opening I! in the bow1 2 and discharged out through auxiliary pipe 9. In order that this may take place, a pump or suction device I8 is provided in the lower part of the housing Ill. This pump or suction device is shown in Fig. 2 as a fan, which is adapted to draw air from auxiliary pipe 8 into the upper part of casing Ill and then force the air out through the auxiliary pipe 9 past the flap valve Ill.

An electric motor 20 is connected through shaft 2I to fan I8 for rotating the fan in a, direction to cause air to move as indicated by the arrows 22. Means have been provided for closing the circuit of motor 28 whenever the lid 3 is moved downwardly to substantially the position shown in Fig. 2. An extra or auxiliary switch 23 is also provided for opening the circuit of motor 2U so that this motor will not function regardless of the action of the seat 3 and associated parts. However, when the switch 23 is closed and the seat 3 is lowered, the circuit of the motor 20 will be closed and will remain closed as long as the seat 3 is in its lowered or fully functioning position. This will cause a continuous outflow of air or other fluid from the bowl 2 whereby the bowl and vicinity will remain free of odors.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, there is a slight space between the seat 3 and bowl 2 when the seat 3 is lowered to its full functioning position. This will permit the air from the room to pass into the bowl and eventually out through the tubular structure 6.

A bracket 24 is welded or otherwise readily secured to the primary pipe I. This bracket has a bolt or plunger 25 screwed therein and is locked against movement by the nut 26. Preferably the bolt has a rounded head 21 which is preferably in continuous contacts with the head 28 of the rod 29. The rod 29 extends into a switch casing 30 and is provided with a wedge-shaped or coneshaped contact end 3|. A spring 32 acts on the head 28 and the switch casing 33 to hold the contact end 3| in the position shown in Fig. 1. A pair of resilient switch arms 33 and 34 are arranged in line with the contact end 3| so that whenever the bolt 25 is shifted from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, the rod 29 will be pushed to the left as shown in Fig. 2, so that the contact end 3| will engage the switch arms 33 and 34. The contact end 3|, as shown particularly in Fig. 2, is provided with a block of insulation, and on this insulation is provided a metal covering which short circuits the switch arms 33 and 34 when the switch is closed.

The switch casing 30 is carried by a bracket 35 welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the auxiliary pipe 8, which pipe is rigidly secured to the pump-casing H]. The pump casing l0 is.connected in any suitable way with the casing of motor 20 which in turn is supported by the standard at 35. An electrical cable 31 is provided with a plug 38 designed to be plugged into an outlet 39 when the device is to be used. One

wire from the plug 38 extends to the contact 34 while the other wire extends to a wire 40 connected with thelplug 4|. A wire 42 is also connected with theplug 4| and to wire 43 which is connected withthe contact arm 33. The plug 4| is plugged into a suitable receptacle connected with the motor 2Bso that when the plug 38 is in position and the switch 45 is closed, as shown in Fig. 2, current will be supplied to the motor 20 for rotatingthe fan I8. Thus the motor will continue to function as long as the switch 45 is closed and plugs 33 and 4| are in functioning position. Normally all of these parts are left in functioning position and when the seat 3 is released it will automatically move upwardly through the action of the resilient bumper 5,

which may be of soft rubber. The spring 32 may be used to assist, in swinging the pipe I until the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1. This will permit the spring 32 to move the contact head 30 away from the contact arms 33.and 34 and thereby break the circuit of the motor 20.

By reason of the construction just described, it will be readily seen that when the toilet is not in use the motor 29 and associated parts are not functioning. However, as soon as the seat 3 is lowered, all of these parts will begin to function and will continue to function until the seat 3 has been again moved upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1. It will be understood that the various parts Will be proportioned to accomplish the results just described.

The inlet pipe I4 has been arranged substantially centrally of the seat 3 when viewed from the side, but it will be evident that the parts may be proportioned so that this inlet pipe could be arranged nearer the hinge 4 or further from the hinge 4.

I claim:

1. In combination with a toilet seat on a bowl,

a ventilating device comprising a conduit having its inlet section fixed on and moveable with the seat, suction means external to the seat for stationary mounting and having an orifice portion adapted to align and connect with the said inlet section on the toilet seat when same is in normal operating position and disconnect therefrom when the said seat is raised, an electrical control attached to the stationary conduit to actuate said suction means and be mechanically operated by the seat when in normal position and the conduit isconnected up with the said suction means.

2. In combination with a toilet seat on a bowl, a ventilating device of the class described comprising a conduit neck attached to a peripheral portion of the toilet seat with its inlet facing towards the opening of the seat and with its outlet portion pending away from the bowl and free, a ventilating or suction mechanism adapted for mounting adjacent the bowl in a stationary manner and having a vent and a suction conduit piece arranged for facile connection with the said inlet portion when the seat is in normal position and for disconnection when the seat is raised, an electrical control connected to the stationar conduit and adapted to be operated by actuating means connectedwith said conduit neck when the seat is in normal position and operate ventilating device .for withdrawing air in and about the bowl and diverting same through the vent duct of the mechanism.

3. In combination with a toilet bowl seat, a ventilating device comprising an electrical control, a conduit section fixed on and movable with said seat, a fixed conduit section attached to a 

